Study: Without more data, a black hole’s origins can be “spun” in any direction
Current measurements of black holes are not enough to nail down how the invisible giants form in the universe, researchers say.
Using light to manipulate neuron excitability
A new optogenetics-based tool allows researchers to control how neurons respond to electrical input.
Three MIT seniors win 2024 Schwarzman Scholarships
Sara V. Fernandez, Amanda Hu, and Brigette Wang will spend the 2023-24 academic year at Tsinghua University in China studying global affairs.
An automated way to assemble thousands of objects
A new algorithm for automatic assembly of products is accurate, efficient, and generalizable to a wide range of complex real-world assemblies.
School of Science appoints 10 faculty to named professorships
Those selected for these positions receive additional support to pursue their research and develop their careers.
A healthy wind
Health benefits of using wind energy instead of fossil fuels could quadruple if the most polluting power plants are selected for dialing down, new study finds.
How touch dampens the brain’s response to painful stimuli
Rubbing an aching body part can bring some relief. Neuroscientists at MIT's McGovern Institute are looking to find out why.
MIT researchers use quantum computing to observe entanglement
Researchers at the Center for Theoretical Physics lead work on testing quantum gravity on a quantum processor.
A targeted approach to reducing the health impacts of crop residue burning in India
A new study shows how small-scale actions could improve air quality and health outcomes.
Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain
These immature connections may explain how the adult brain is able to form new memories and absorb new information.
Mysteriously bright flash is a black hole jet pointing straight toward Earth, astronomers say
The observations could illuminate how supermassive black holes feed and grow.
Spreading joy with Wide Tim
MIT senior Tianyuan (Margaret) Zheng uses art as a bonding enzyme to join STEM, culture, and community.
The task of magnetic classification suddenly looks easier
MIT undergraduate researchers Helena Merker, Harry Heiberger, and Linh Nguyen, and PhD student Tongtong Liu, exploit machine-learning techniques to determine the magnetic structure of materials.
New CRISPR-based tool inserts large DNA sequences at desired sites in cells
Known as PASTE, the technique holds potential for treating a variety of diseases caused by faulty genes.
Teresa Gao named 2024 Mitchell Scholar
The MIT senior will pursue postgraduate studies in computer science in Ireland.